Qingshui had no intention of commenting on Tsunade's words.
At moments like this, being an honest and quiet listener was the wisest choice.
Although he knew very well that the topic Tsunade had dragged him into was dangerously sensitive, he couldn't deny that seeing this side of her felt… special.
They hadn't known each other for very long.
Yet Tsunade was willing to expose her vulnerability, her resentment, and her drunken complaints in front of him.
That alone was proof that, at least in her heart, she already regarded him as someone close.
Unfortunately, Tsunade clearly had no intention of letting him stay silent.
She leaned closer, her eyes slightly unfocused, her tone stubborn.
"Tell me," she demanded,
"am I right or not?"
"Anyone who wants to become Hokage is definitely an idiot, isn't that true?"
Faced with such a question, Qingshui could only smile helplessly.
"Lady Tsunade," he said gently,
"you're drunk."
"I'm not drunk!"
Tsunade slammed her palm on the table, her movements exaggerated.
"I can still drink more!"
At that moment, she looked nothing like a legendary Sannin or the head of Konoha's Medical Department.
She looked like a spoiled child throwing a tantrum.
Completely lacking the composure one would expect from a twenty-eight-year-old elite kunoichi.
But the night was already late.
And Qingshui had no choice but to refuse her request to continue drinking.
"Lady Tsunade," he said firmly,
"it's time to go home."
Qingshui himself had drunk a little, but he was still perfectly clear-headed.
He paid the bill, stood up, and supported the unsteady Tsunade as they left the barbecue restaurant together.
The cool night breeze brushed against their faces.
It carried a faint chill, sobering Tsunade slightly.
Only slightly.
She still leaned heavily against Qingshui, using him as a human support.
As he supported her, Qingshui couldn't help but feel the oppressive weight pressing against his arm.
A certain planetary-level mass made its presence impossible to ignore.
He glanced down subconsciously—
And immediately caught a glimpse of pale skin.
For a brief moment, even the silver moon hanging high in the night sky seemed dull in comparison.
So this is what people mean by "rich and generous"…
If this were a test of willpower, which official could possibly pass?
Qingshui forcibly suppressed the distracting thoughts in his mind and quickened his pace, escorting Tsunade back to the Senju Clan Compound.
---
"Lady Tsunade, you're back very late."
The door opened, and Kushina appeared.
Her instinctive scolding stopped halfway when she noticed Qingshui beside Tsunade.
"Huh?"
"Qingshui, why are you with Lady Tsunade?"
Qingshui quickly explained the situation—how he had treated Tsunade to dinner to thank her for teaching him medical ninjutsu, and how she had… drunk a little too much.
After that, he carefully handed Tsunade over to Kushina.
"I see," Kushina said thoughtfully, then sighed.
"That really does sound like her."
She then looked at Qingshui with mild envy.
"You're amazing, you know. Your learning speed is ridiculous."
"Unlike me—I've been studying sealing jutsu for days and still haven't made much progress."
During this period, Kushina had been strictly supervised by Uzumaki Mito.
Aside from occasionally visiting Mikoto, she was rarely allowed to leave the compound.
Otherwise, Mito simply wouldn't permit it.
"You're a genius too, Kushina," Qingshui said sincerely.
"With your talent, you'll definitely master it. Don't be discouraged."
As a member of the Uzumaki Clan, Kushina's aptitude for sealing jutsu was unquestionable.
She just hadn't fully matured yet.
"Hmph!"
Kushina puffed out her cheeks proudly.
"You're right. I am a genius."
After making sure Tsunade was safely inside, Qingshui left the Senju compound and began walking home.
Halfway there, he suddenly stopped.
It wasn't because someone had called out to him.
It was because a familiar sensation washed over his mind.
His Shadow Clone had just automatically dispelled.
Even while taking Tsunade out for dinner, he hadn't forgotten about training.
That was one of the conveniences of the ninja world.
When there was too much to do—
You could literally split yourself.
At the same time, this also proved something else.
Konoha-ryū Yanagi truly deserved its S-rank difficulty.
Even after that training session, Qingshui felt that he understood nine parts out of ten.
Yet the final part remained frustratingly elusive.
He still wasn't strong enough.
With his current strength, how could he guarantee survival in the Third Great Shinobi War?
He didn't want vague confidence.
He wanted at least a ninety-eight percent certainty.
Only then could he feel at ease.
---
When one truly focuses on something, time passes frighteningly fast.
Before Qingshui even realized it—
A full month had passed.
During that month, his life followed a rigid routine.
Three points.
One line.
Every day, he only appeared in three places:
• His home
• Konoha Hospital
• His training ground
It was monotonous.
Almost mechanical.
But the results were undeniable.
His chakra reserves had grown at an astonishing rate.
The small goal he had once set for himself—
He had already completed it.
---
[Chakra: Rank C (11,750 / 100,000)]
---
His current chakra level was already average among Jonin.
What Qingshui hadn't expected was how vast the gap between ranks truly was.
Reaching Rank B required a minimum of 100,000 chakra.
That wasn't something he could achieve in a short time.
A few days earlier, when his chakra had first broken through 10,000 and reached Rank C, the system had rewarded him with something different.
Not an orb.
But a treasure chest.
Upon opening it, he obtained a Copy Scroll.
As the name implied, the scroll could be used to copy one ability from a designated target.
However, there were strict limitations.
• Only abilities the target could currently use
• Single-use only
Because of that, Qingshui hadn't used it yet.
Firstly, the Copy Scroll was extremely valuable.
He didn't know if he would ever obtain another one.
Secondly, since he could already gain other people's jutsu through system rewards, the Copy Scroll initially seemed redundant.
But that was only on the surface.
The Copy Scroll had one terrifying advantage—
It could copy Kekkei Genkai.
This was something orb rewards could not do.
At least, golden orbs couldn't.
As for colored orbs?
Qingshui had no idea.
He had never received one.
Therefore, to maximize the Copy Scroll's value, he had to use it on someone with a Kekkei Genkai.
If successful—
He would strike gold.
In Konoha, the most famous Kekkei Genkai were:
• Wood Release
• Sharingan
Wood Release was currently nonexistent.
At this point in time, Yamato might not even have been born yet.
That left the Sharingan.
And Qingshui knew someone who possessed it.
Uchiha Mikoto.
A Three-Tomoe Sharingan user.
Accessible.
Trustworthy.
However—
Ever since Mikoto had been discharged from the hospital, she had re-formed her ninja squad.
For the past month, she had mostly been away from Konoha on missions.
As for the Byakugan?
Qingshui wasn't considering it.
From a strategic standpoint, the Byakugan was invaluable.
But in terms of individual growth potential, its ceiling was lower than the Sharingan's.
Unless it was the Ōtsutsuki Clan's Byakugan.
More importantly, there was a massive risk.
If he used the Copy Scroll on a Hyūga and copied Gentle Fist instead of the Byakugan—
That would be a catastrophic loss.
Gentle Fist only reached its true potential when paired with the Byakugan.
---
"Qingshui."
A familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Could I ask you for a favor?"
Qingshui looked up.
It was Mikoto.
She had just arrived at Konoha Hospital, seeking him out.
"Hold on," Qingshui said calmly.
"Don't rush."
"What exactly do you need my help with?"
Mikoto explained the situation.
Her squad had accepted a C-rank escort mission.
They were scheduled to escort a merchant caravan to the Land of Rain.
Everything was ready.
But just before departure, the employer's son injured his leg while fooling around.
Ordinary people weren't like ninjas.
Such injuries didn't heal quickly.
Delaying departure too long would cause the transported food ingredients to spoil, resulting in massive losses.
Because of that, the employer requested that a medical ninja accompany the team to care for his son during the journey.
However—
Ninja squads with medical ninja were already rare.
And medical ninja working at Konoha Hospital were even more reluctant to leave on missions.
After all, not every medical ninja was like Tsunade—
Capable of both healing and fighting.
That was why Mikoto had come to him.
She looked at Qingshui seriously.
"I thought of you."
"Will you help me?"
Qingshui fell silent.
For him—
This was not just a request.
It was an opportunity.